To My Mothers, Happy Mother's Day

Today is a day that I am reminded of the strong, beautiful, and loving women I have in my life. Each one of them has contributed to who I am today and I am eternally grateful for that.

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I have two of the coolest aunts in the world. They are both creative, unique, free-spirited individuals who have supported me and been inspirations. They have always been there to make me laugh. To teach me how to create. To be an ear for my worries, fears and joys. They have been this for me while raising their own families. I don't know many people who have aunts like mine.

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My grandmothers are awe-inspiring. They have been some of the strongest pillars in my life. They taught me manners, morals and values, and how to love. They were there to support my parents who had two stubborn and extremely independent little girls. They took my sister and I on trips, took me to school, fed me, played with me, scolded me, laughed with me, laughed at me, hid easter eggs, played library, let me wear their jewelry, and told me fascinating stories. They loved me and supported me through my best and my worst with no judgement or question. They are the reason I have two of the greatest parents in the world. I  would not be the strong, independent, successful woman I am, and continue to grow into, with out my grandmas.

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My mother is a quiet heroine, a strong superhero, and one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me. She is one of the most humble, silly, brilliant, beautiful, compassionate, fun, spirited, creative, nurturing, patient, and giving people I have ever encountered. She is the driving force behind our beautifully wonderful family. 

I am constantly struck speechless by her strength. She does so much with no expectation of anything in return. She spends her life as a servant; teaching children, taking care of her family, and caring relentlessly for her mother. She never gives up. I can only hope and pray that if I have children someday that I can live up to the bar she has set. 

She is my rock. She is my playmate. She is my life-giver. She is my teacher. She is my best friend. She is my idol and role model. She is everything I need her to be. She is my mom.

Granddaddy

Today is the one year anniversary of the passing of one of the greatest people I have been fortunate to have in my life. This is what I wrote a year ago, just an hour after he left us:

May 8^th has never held any significance for me. It’s not a birthday of anyone I hold dear. It’s not a holiday. It’s not quite the end of school. It’s not the mark of a new season. I don’t remember any significant events from May 8^ths in the past. Today changed that. Starting at 6:03 pm today, May 8^th became a day that I will remember forever. It is the day that I will always celebrate the life of my granddaddy, Joe Wammack. The first time I have experienced the loss of a grandparent. My first experience of watching someone suffer until the end of an amazing, fulfilling, and awe inspiring life. No regrets. No sadness. Ready, set, he went. He went to be with his sons. To be with his parents. Went to be with his Savior. He went home. He left a family that made him more proud and joyous than anything else on this earth. He said "see you later" to twelve of his blood that are changed because of him. Hundreds, maybe thousands of others that were inspired to greatness by this one man. I could not be more grateful that I had this man for twenty glorious years. To learn from him. To love him and be loved by him. This world will not be the same without him, but is better for having him in it.